Spotlight on Srinivasan ahead of BCCI meet

It was supposed to be a routine affair with the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) working committee meeting one last time in Kolkata on Sunday ahead of September’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).

But with the Supreme Court deferring the hearing on president N. Srinivasan’s petition, challenging the Bombay High Court’s ruling that the BCCI probe panel investigating the spot-fixing scandal was illegal, to Sepetember 11, things are set to heat up.

Notices have been sent to Srinivasan and the BCCI. The Board had on August 7 sought permission to hold discussions on the probe report during the pendency of the matter, but the request was turned down.

What also hurt Srinivasan’s chances of taking over the reins, the court expressed doubts on the motives in constituting the probe team.

But Srinivasan is still keen to chair Sunday’s meeting. His case has been supported by the likes of BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel and treasurer Ravi Savant, who are still adamant that nobody can stop the chief from chairing the meeting, a stance that hasn’t gone down too well with interim chief Jagmohan Dalmiya.

Sources close to Dalmiya find the attitude of some of the members of the BCCI disrespectful.

“This isn’t the way you talk about a matter which is sub judice. One needs to think about the BCCI and its image before going out and making public statements. Even last time, certain quarters had cried out that Srinivasan would chair the meeting, without realising the legality of the situation,” a source told Mail Today.

“Moreover, Dalmiya is a seasoned campaigner and this is no way to treat him. He didn’t beg for the interim chief’s post, some senior BCCI officials requested him to takeover,” he said.

The Board’s annual report and balance sheet would be tabled at the meeting. The issue of a contentious land deal for the National Cricket Academy is also likely to come up for discussion.